Fort Worth council candidates avoid forum participation after debate became heated​on April 15, 2025 at 3:25 am

FORT WORTH, Texas — Anticipation grew leading up to Thursday’s city council candidate forum in Fort Worth after a physical altercation erupted between District 8 councilmember Chris Nettles and his opponent, candidate Payton Jackson.

Last Thursday, Jackson approached Nettles during the forum. A physical and verbal confrontation ensued, and police moved in to separate them.

Nettles participated in this Thursday’s forum held at St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, his opponents, Jackson and Arthur McCoy Jr. didn’t.

Jackson attended the beginning of the forum but stood in the back of the church. She briefly walked to the forum’s table and left shortly after. 

Jackson didn’t provide a statement to WFAA about why she didn’t participate in the event, but she did issue a statement on Wednesday, saying “Nettles initiated bodily contact with me during the event- an unacceptable and dangerous escalation that I was forced to defend myself against… I also condemn the organizers of the debate, the Historic Southside Neighborhood Association, for their blatant unprofessionalism and biased enforcement of debate rules.”

An event organizer told WFAA she didn’t RSVP to Thursday’s forum at St. Andrew’s UMC but was never turned away.

Both Nettles and Jackson allege they were physically assaulted by each other. The two candidates filed police reports.

“We’re in a heated race,” Nettles told WFAA after Thursday’s forum. “One of the individuals caused all the havoc that happened on Thursday. Although we had an alarming issue last time, I still wanted to make sure I come and let the people hear what I plan to do for the next two years.”

Deborah Peoples, a candidate running for another council seat, addressed the absence of other candidates during the forum.

“I am disappointed we had candidates not show up,” Peoples said. “That is a lack of respect for our voters.”

The third candidate in the District 8 race, Arthur McCoy Jr., issued the following statement regarding his decision not to participate in Thursday’s forum.

“I really didn’t like the display of the community forum we had at the last debate,” McCoy said in a video statement to WFAA. “It upset me in a way of seeing the community was disconnected.”